Best Of
Re: Skipping excursions
Tauck will only provide transportation for their own activities- hotel should book the activity for you with pick up and drop off at the hotel.
you can also check Viator and pick the city you'll be at; they have day tours with pick up.
Get in the habit of checking attractions and options anywhere you go, it's the best way to see the most and save time, also buy any tickets here in the US, it is sometimes less expensive, you save time and you'll be sure to see what you're looking for.
I normally have an idea of where I want to travel and before I book, I do a general search of the place. Once I feel confident and sure I like and my desire of going to that country- I book and give deposit... then the fun begins- I search for xtra activities, Spas etc... and I book them.
mil
Re: 2026 Christmas Markets Cruise
We did this in Dec 2023. Six women together -- 2 solos and 4 of us who left our spouses at home. We added two more women on board and there was another even bigger group of women. You'll be fine. Enjoy.
Re: WiFi problems
NDPhillips, hopefully your time on the boat will be minimal so that you get to see the country you are in. Because of the time difference, it can be difficult to make phone calls to the US anyway.
Enjoy your first Tauck tour,I hear that boat is one of the nicest.
British
Re: Advertising
If feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, providing healthcare to women, promoting education, supporting the arts and working for a cleaner environment are politically motivated endeavors, I think we need more Rick Steveses in this world.
26 Feb - modified to indicate pluralization of surname.
kfnknfzk
Re: US passports can now be renewed online!
Agree. It is very easy and you are taking the picture in the comfort of your home. When you reach the place in the application to upload the picture, you just have to push the file into location on the application. You don't even have to remember the name of the file.
Eddy
Re: Advertising
Rick also built an apartment complex in 2005 to provide transitional housing for homeless mothers & kids. It was a partnership with YWCA and in 2017 he gave it to the Y as his business was successful enough he didn't need the asset to fund his retirement.
Re: Advertising
Rick Steves is fundraising for Bread for the World, a non-partisan organization that fights hunger. He does this through his network of traveling friends and through his radio and TV program. If you don't like it you don't have to watch it or participate.
Noreen
Re: Salzburg versus Cesky Krumlov
Went to both, both are beautiful!
Salzburg 
If you like classical music and like Mozart, you would find interesting the Mozart's House, also you could enjoy eating Mozart Balls.
A stroll around the Maribell gardens it's nice and the views of the castle/river are incredible. At the Maribell gardens - there is always live music- and lots of flowers, also there is the Cathedral at the city center, then the Opera House, built inside a rock , you could do a day tours inside. You could also visit the Castle above the city- great views and as you come down on a cable car... across from the Funicular entrance there is a pet's cemetery, very cute!
Also, a couple of miles from the center there is the Schloss Hellbrunn- palace with tricky water fountains.
And the last thing, which I cannot stand... the infamous Sound of Music tour. YUK!!!!
Sorry, I don't like musicals on TV or Julie Andrews.
Cesky Krumlov it's beautiful too but smaller and with limited things to see, compared to Salzburg.
They have a great Baroque- Rennaissant castle in which you'll see the coat of arms etc.. you will also visit the beautiful Baroque theater which it's well preserve and from the bridge connecting both also the views of the city center, houses and surroundings.
At the city center you could visit a church, next to a beer pub and the main square with shops. - not much more..
Driving to both it's great and the scenery beautiful.
Take your pick according to your interest. If you have a day off from Tauck tour , do CK on your own.
mil
Re: Budapest August 11, 2016 - Arriving early
I was on the Blue Danube driver cruise (Prague to Budapest) in October 2023. I added extra days at both ends and added the following tours in Budapest:
Tour of Parliament / buy tickets in advance
Food walking tour (mailto:tiberiustours@gmail.com)
Strudel workshop-Flavors of Budapest
http://www.cookinghungary.com
Jewish heritage plus sites in Budapest not covered by TAUCK. Andrea G. at ToursByLocals <guide_1071-101@toursbylocals.com
It was a fantastic trip!! So much to see!!
